Classification of Nations as Developed and Less Developed: An Arrangement by Discriminant Analysis of Socioeconomic Data

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1536-7150.1983.tb01701.x
• Author: George Dellaportas.
• Date: 01 April 1983
• Published date: 01 April 1983

Classification of Nations as Developed

and Less Developed:

An Arrangement by Discriminant Analysis

of

Socioeconomic

Data

By GEORGE DELLAPORTAS;*

ABSTRACT.

Recent data from 62 countries representing various

levels

of na-

tional

development

are analyzed. A number of metal,

economic,

nutritional, de-

mographic,

cultural and health

indicators,

derived from these nations, were sub-

mitted to discriminant analysis, on the basis of a priori classification of each

nation to one of three levels of development. The analysis produced specific

characteristics for each level of development, which categorized the nations

in distinct clusters underlying the socioeconomic and political similarities in

each one. The thus developed discriminant characteristics were then applied

to 19 additional nations of "unknown" developmental level: they too were

classified and clustered in perfect association with the original 62 by their

inherent and acquired similarities. Thus a universally applicable process to

classify a nation objectively on the basis of its own national characteristics by

level of development is presented.

I

Introduction

IT

IS

COMMON PRACTICE

to distinguish the more than 150 nations of the

world into developed and less developed, on the basis of one or more of their

socioeconomic, demographic and educational characteristics. The distinction

is somewhat arbitrary, in the sense that there exists no universally acceptable

set of criteria to provide objective and reliable classification.

The present paper utilizes discriminant analysis to develop a set of such

criteria which in proper combination can best classify a nation by level of

development. The paper is based exclusively on international data collected

from various sources and covering for the most part the period 1975-1980.

At>out 15 demographic, social, economic and health variables were originally

examined and 7 were selected by omitting redundant ones and by preferring

the ones most relevant and expressive of national characteristics.

•[George Dellaportas, M.D., Dr.PH., is professor and thairman of the department ot

preventive medicine/community health at the University of Ilinois Colle>>e of Medicine at Peoria.

123 S.W, Glcndale Avenue, Box 1649, Peoria, HI. 61656] The author thanks an anonymous

reviewer of this JOURNAL for helpful comments on an earlier draft.

American Journal of Economics and Sociolo^ty, Vol. 12. No 2 (April, lys^)

American Journal of Economics and S(Xiolo>{y. lnt